No words can console the near and dear ones specially the mother of three-year-old Ibrahim who fell into a manhole near NIPA Chowrangi and whose body was found only after 15 hours of hectic search mostly by people of the area near Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology.

During this period the boy’s body travelled nearly half a kilometer downstream from the manhole which was located directly in front of a fashion store; this was a two-by-two-foot uncovered gutter with as is usual with such contraptions in Karachi no protective cover or barrier for pedestrians. As it was in the middle of a major construction project did not earn it any special attention and it was left unguarded like so many others.

This is not the first time that a manhole has taken a precious life mostly of children who in outlying areas of the city play around these gaping manholes and actually gamble with their lives. By the way manholes are not the only danger faced by these children. Stray dogs, fast moving vehicles like dumper trucks and water tankers too are hazards........

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